Height & Weight by position 1903-2007: observations.

This may be yet another reason to eliminate the pitchers mound. Data is from the Lahman database analyzed using Microsoft Access for Windows. Much of the data derived can be found in other online google documents that I created.

Paul Molitor is the DH.Pitchers and first basemen are almost dead even for the tallest at 73 inches, six feet one inch.If I sort the 177 Hall of Famers on height, I find two who are 78 inches: Drysdale (P) and Winfield (OF). Two are 77 inches: Rixey and Jenkins, both pitchers. Four of the seven at 76 inches are pitchers: Paige, Perry, Carlton and Fingers. Five of the eight at 75 inches are pitchers: Joss, Marquard, Grove, Bunning and Palmer. Twelve of 28 at 74 inches are pitchers. Shortest HoF: Maranville (SS), 65 inches. Of the five shortest HoF, three were shortstops, including Sewell (66.5") and Rizzuto (66"). Outfielders Bill Hamilton and Hack Wilson were 66 inches.Among the 56 pitchers, ten are shorter than six feet tall and of those ten only Whitey Ford started his career after World War II. Ted Lyons lingered until May 19, 1946. The latest finish date of any of the other ten was Grimes: 9/20/1934; then Coveleski 8/3/1928. The shortest HoF pitchers: Galvin and Welch who never ate Wonderbread.2. MVP and Cy Young winnersClick here to see all winners.MVP from 1931 through 2006 (for whom there is data):Height data missing for MVP winners Cochrane, Greenberg, Cavarretta, Konstanty, Rosen, Groat.tallest: Parker, Murphy (twice), Thomas (twice), 77"

3. All MLB players for the seasons 1903 through 2007The data in the multiple tabs is organized as follows:- per season for all players; no weighting; each player is treated equally- defensive positions has data derived by using players who had played a certain percentage of the MLB average number of games per team that season. For instance, if teams averaged 162 games a player had to play a certain percentage of 162 games to be considered for that position. Once associated with a position all players are treated equally. The percentages per position: 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, C, OF, DH: 50%. OF was used through the 1995 season; after 1995 players were defined as LF, CF, RF instead of OF; for those seasons and positions: 33%. Pitchers: 10%.- summary for defensive positions: height and weight averages every ten years and for 1903 and 2007.Click for multiple sheets of MLB data.My MLB data standard deviation. See the link below.Explanation of standard deviation.One hundred years ago some players were surprisingly heavy. Some maximum weights: 1903 242, 1913 250, 1918 260, 1925 290. And minimum weights were pretty minimal: under 140 from 1903 through 1929 except for 1923 and 1924.Players were taller than we might expect, averaging at least 70 inches each season.On average:tallest - 2007, 73.3 inches

shortest - 1903, 70.2 inches

heaviest - 2007, 194.7 the only season over 193

lightest - 1921, 170.7; 1917 was the only other season in which players were under 171 pounds.Standard deviation:Height - max 2.3 in 1996 (average 73.05) and 1992; of 14 highest seasons only 1917, 1904 and 1919 are not between 1990 and 2007.

Height - min 1.76 in 1938 (average 71.785); of 14 seasons under 2, all but 1958 were between 1929 and 1946, all of the 1930s except 1930 (2.00169105044).

Weight - max 20.65 in 2006 (average 193.35); 2005 and 2007 only other seasons over 20; 2000 through 2007 have top spots; 1903 at number 22 is the earliest season before 1989; 1904 is number 25.